Device and method for circulatory isolation and treatment of a part of a body

Abstract

An apparatus for circulatory isolation and treatment of a part of a patient's body includes a fluid circulation loop having a first end and a second end, a flow obstructer adapted for obstructing blood flow in a patient's blood vessel such that a body part or organ becomes circulatorily isolated from the circulation of the rest of the body, and a flow-through arrangement including first and second flow-through members respectively connected to the first and second ends of the fluid circulation loop, for providing the isolated part of the patient's body with a fluid connection to the fluid circulation loop, allowing circulation of a therapeutic fluid through the isolated body part.

1 . An apparatus for circulatory isolation and treatment of a part of a patient's body, said apparatus comprising:
 a fluid circulation loop having a first end and a second end;
 a flow obstructer adapted for obstructing a blood flow in a patient's blood vessel such that a body part, extremity or organ becomes circulatorily isolated from the circulation of the rest of the body, said flow obstructer including a compressing arrangement, applicable around said extremity to compress a section of said extremity and thereby circulatorily isolate the patient's extremity and prevent a leakage of a fluid from said extremity to the rest of the patient's circulation; and catheters, having a reinforced section, adapted for being introduced in an artery and in a vein having connection to said extremity; 
   a flow-through arrangement comprising a first flow-through member and a second flow-through member connectable to said first and second ends of said fluid circulation loop, respectively, for providing said part of the patient's body with a fluid connection to the fluid circulation loop, making it possible to circulate a therapeutic fluid through said body part.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said compressing arrangement is tourniquet-shaped and has a predetermined height; and said catheters being an arterial catheter having an elongated section that is reinforced to withstand an outside pressure and where said section have a length that is greater than the height of the compressing arrangement; and a venous catheter having an elongated section that is reinforced to withstand an outside pressure, said section having a length that is greater than the height of the compressing arrangement. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where said flow obstructer comprises balloon catheters, said catheters being capable of obstructing the blood flow in a patient's blood vessels leading to and from an isolated part or organ of the body, such that said part or organ becomes circulatory isolated from the rest of the body. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises pump for circulating a fluid in said fluid circulating loop and said catheters. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said therapeutic fluid has a composition that allows said fluid to oxygenate and wherein said apparatus comprises an oxygenator unit capable of oxygenating blood and said therapeutic fluid for supplying said extremity with oxygen during a prolonged period of time. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a heat providing unit connected in the fluid circulation loop, for warming the fluid. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said apparatus comprises a control unit with an input unit for a number of input signal lines and a output unit for a number of control lines devised for controlling a number of process parameters including fluid pressure and temperature, oxygen saturation, and the flow speed of said fluid. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said circulatory unit comprises a venous reservoir with an inlet for receiving fluid coming from the patient, and an outlet connected to the pump means for recycling the fluid to the patient. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a level sensor for measuring the height of fluid in the venous reservoir. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said control unit comprises a display devised for displaying trend curves and the level of fluid in the venous reservoir and time of treatment. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid circulation loop includes a tube set which comprises a shunt connection between an arterial and a venous part of the tube set, said shunt connection having a valve enabling closing and opening of said shunt connection. 
   
   
       12 . A method for the treatment of thrombosis in a patient's extremity comprising the steps of:
 connecting the internal blood circulatory system of said extremity to an extracorporeal circulation;   isolating the extremity from the rest of the patient's circulation while maintaining an extracorporeal circulation in said extremity; and   adding a thrombolytic agent.   
   
   
       13 . A method for the treatment of cancer in a patient's organ comprising the following steps:
 connecting the internal blood circulatory system of said organ to an extracorporeal circulation;   isolating the organ from the rest of the patient's circulation while maintaining an extracorporeal circulation of a fluid in said organ;   adding a chemotherapeutic agent to the fluid; and   circulating said fluid with the agent through the organ for achieving a therapeutic effect.   
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 catheterizing the patient using Seldinger technique   
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  comprising using said Seldinger technique for positioning reinforced catheters in blood vessels passing through tissue compressed from the outside of the patients body. 
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising adding a therapeutic fluid to a fluid in said extracorporeal circulation, said fluid being blood or a therapeutic fluid or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising oxygenating the fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising warming the fluid. 
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , where said thrombolytic agent is effective or present in such high concentration that it could cause hemorrhage or other side effect injuries if said liquid entered the blood circulation of the brain or other sensitive organ. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for treatment of a patient's extremity, said apparatus comprising:
 a tourniquet-shaped compressing arrangement having a predetermined height;   an arterial catheter having an elongated section that is reinforced to withstand an outside pressure, said section having a length that is greater than the height of the compressing arrangement;   an venous catheter having an elongated section that is reinforced to withstand an outside pressure and where said section of said venous catheter having a length that is greater than the height of the compressing means.   
   
   
       21 . A fluid circulation loop, having a tube connectable to a patient's blood vessel system and useable for altering certain properties of a fluid circulating in said patient, having a first end and a second end connectable to a patient, and a shunt connection. 
   
   
       22 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said shunt connection is connected between a part of the loop which is close to the first end and a part of the loop which is close to the second end of the loop, and in that said shunt connection comprises a valve that enables closing and opening of said shunt connection. 
   
   
       23 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 22 , comprising an arterial valve connected in the loop further closer to the first end than the shunt connection, and a venous valve means connected in the loop further closer to the second end than the shunt connection enabling opening and closing of fluid connection to the patient's body. 
   
   
       24 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 23 , comprising a fluid removal arrangement for removal of fluid from the loop by a Y-connector and associated valves. 
   
   
       25 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 24 , comprising a fluid additive arrangement for adding fluid to the loop by a Y-connector. 
   
   
       26 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 25 , comprising a pump, a heater and an oxygenator in said loop. 
   
   
       27 . The fluid circulation loop as claimed in  claim 24  comprising a valve adapted to add fluid to a venous reservoir when opened. 
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 catheterizing the patient using Seldinger technique   
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  comprising using said Seldinger technique for positioning reinforced catheters in blood vessels passing through tissue compressed from the outside of the patients body. 
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising adding a therapeutic fluid to a fluid in said extracorporeal circulation, said fluid being blood or a therapeutic fluid or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       31 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising oxygenating the fluid. 
   
   
       32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising warming the fluid. 
   
   
       33 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , where said thrombolytic agent is effective or present in such high concentration that it could cause hemorrhage or other side effect injuries if said liquid entered the blood circulation of the brain or other sensitive organ.